Kia Motors Europe appoints Carlos Lahoz as new Marketing Director

Kia seeks to strengthen reputation for electrification in line with new hybrid and electric products

Kia regional HQ oversees 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus

Frankfurt, 9 January 2020 – Kia Motors Europe has named Carlos Lahoz as its new Marketing Director, effective immediately. Mr Lahoz will oversee the brand’s marketing and communications programmes, and will be responsible for Kia’s digital marketing, brand and strategic marketing planning, media relations, social media, and brand experience within the European region.

Joining Kia’s European management team, Carlos Lahoz fills the vacancy left by Artur Martins, who recently took up a position at the company’s global headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Mr Lahoz will report directly to Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe.

“This is a particularly exciting period for Kia, as the brand strengthens its reputation as a smart, approachable and electrified brand in Europe,” comments Emilio Herrera. “With more electric and hybrid models on the way, Carlos will work with marketing teams across Europe and in Korea to ensure Kia continues to engage and communicate with current and prospective customers in the most effective ways. His intimate knowledge of how Kia operates, combined with insights into what our customers want from their cars and our brand, make him ideal for the role.”

Mr Lahoz has more than two decades of experience in the automotive sector. Most recently he served for five years as Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at Kia Motors Europe, responsible for the company’s long-term business strategy, CO2 management, business intelligence and sales planning. He was also responsible for the company’s European production, overseeing operations planning at Kia’s European manufacturing facility in Žilina, Slovakia. Before joining Kia Motors Europe, he served as Senior Manager Business Planning at Kia Motors Iberia.

A Spanish national, 44-year-old Carlos Lahoz holds a degree in economics from the University of Zaragoza, Spain and an executive MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. He has also completed a post-graduate Global Professional Program from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the USA. Mr Lahoz is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian, and also speaks intermediate German.